Oilheat Advantages

Oilheat is the best fuel for heating, because it outperforms competing fuels in every important way: value, safety, service, quality of heat, and reliability of supply. Oilheat is greener than you might think, thanks to the growing use of biofuel blends and the imminent reduction of sulfur content in the fuel.

Here are a few of the most important Oilheat advantages:

Value

Energy prices have fluctuated considerably in recent years, but Oilheat has remained a consistent value, particularly in Connecticut. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that in 17 of the 20 years between 1990 and 2009, Oilheat was a better value than utility gas in Connecticut. Oilheat bills are straightforward and generally include no extra charges, while utility bills are convoluted and include extras like a basic monthly charge, delivery charges, supply charges, cost adjustment charges, distribution charges, taxes, franchise fees and administration charges.

Great Providers

A customer enjoys a far more satisfying relationship with a company like Valley Energy than you could ever expect with a gas utility. Utilities are faceless conglomerates that answer to distant boards of directors and have no real local ties. Valley Energy is a local company that maintains long-term, personal relationships and is fully accountable. And where utilities offer nothing beyond fuel, Valley Energy offers the services you really need, like preventive maintenance and 24-hour emergency service.

Safety

There are significant differences between the properties of Oilheat and utility gas - and their safety records. Oilheat is a non-explosive liquid that is not flammable at room temperature. In fact, you can drop a match in bucket of Oilheat, and it will go out as if it were dropped in water. To ignite Oilheat, you must first heat it to 140 degrees F - the point at which it begins to vaporize. In the unlikely event of a release from an Oilheat tank, there is no risk of explosion. Utility gas, on the other hand, is a volatile gas that is extremely hazardous when it leaks. It has caused many powerful explosions, including some that have destroyed homes and killed people inside.

Renewability

Oilheat blends readily with plant-based biofuel, which draws on a renewable supply. As fuel producers develop new biofuel blends that incorporate a broader range of feedstocks, the Oilheat supply expands further, easing our dependence on energy imports. ASTM has endorsed select Oilheat/biofuel blends as compatible with all Oilheat burners, so customers can "go green" without even changing their equipment.

Cleanliness

Oilheat producers will reformulate their fuel in the years ahead to reduce the sulfur content. The Energy Research Center says that a blend of biofuel and reduced-sulfur Oilheat may well become "the preferred fuel for lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S."

Service

Customers of Valley Energy have a team of heating experts on their side to keep their equipment running reliably and efficiently all year long. We offer service contracts that cover the cost of regular preventive maintenance and guarantee emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is a vital form of protection, because a heat outage can develop into an emergency quickly when the weather is very cold. Health and safety are at risk when the heat is out, and there is risk of major property damage from frozen water pipes. Gas customers do not enjoy that kind of protection because utilities don't provide equipment service.